Top 10 Best Stand Alone Payroll Software of 2026

Gusto is a cloud-based payroll software designed primarily for small to medium-sized businesses, offering automated payroll processing, tax calculations, filings, and payments. It streamlines employee onboarding, time tracking, and wage compliance while integrating seamlessly with accounting tools like QuickBooks. As a standalone payroll solution, it handles multi-state payroll, direct deposits, and year-end forms with minimal manual input.

OnPay is a comprehensive standalone payroll software tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, offering automated payroll processing, tax calculations, and filings for all 50 states plus localities. It includes employee self-service portals, benefits administration, and seamless integrations with accounting tools like QuickBooks and Xero. With unlimited payroll runs and a focus on compliance, OnPay minimizes errors and administrative burdens for users.

Patriot Software offers a cloud-based stand-alone payroll solution tailored for small businesses, enabling in-house payroll processing with automated tax calculations, direct deposits, and unlimited payroll runs. It handles federal, state, and local tax filings (in Full Service plan), W-2/1099 forms, and multi-state payroll without requiring advanced expertise. The platform emphasizes simplicity and affordability, making it ideal for users seeking core payroll functionality without integrated HR or time-tracking features.

QuickBooks Payroll is a standalone payroll solution from Intuit that enables small to medium-sized businesses to process payroll, calculate taxes, and manage employee payments efficiently without requiring full QuickBooks accounting integration. It automates federal, state, and local tax filings, direct deposits, and W-2/1099 form generation, with options for time tracking and HR tools in higher tiers. The platform emphasizes user-friendly payroll runs in minutes, backed by expert support for compliance.

ADP RUN is a cloud-based payroll software tailored for small to mid-sized businesses, providing end-to-end payroll processing, automated tax calculations, filings, and compliance. It supports multi-state payroll, direct deposit, and essential reporting without requiring a full HCM suite. As a stand-alone solution, it emphasizes reliability and accuracy, backed by ADP's decades of payroll expertise.

Paychex is a robust standalone payroll software solution that automates payroll processing, tax calculations, filings, and direct deposits for businesses of varying sizes. It provides employee self-service portals, customizable reports, and compliance tools to ensure accuracy and regulatory adherence. While it offers optional HR integrations, its core payroll engine stands alone effectively for core processing needs.

SurePayroll is a cloud-based payroll solution tailored for small businesses, providing automated payroll processing, tax calculations, filing, and direct deposits. It includes employee self-service portals for viewing pay stubs, W-2s, and managing personal information. As a standalone tool, it emphasizes core payroll functionality with optional add-ons like time tracking, without requiring full HR suite integration.

Square Payroll is a streamlined, cloud-based payroll solution tailored for small businesses, enabling quick payroll processing, automatic tax calculations, and direct deposit payments for employees and contractors. It handles federal, state, and local tax filings, year-end forms like W-2s and 1099s, and integrates seamlessly with Square's ecosystem for time tracking and payments. As a standalone tool, it offers simplicity without requiring Square POS, though it shines brightest for US-based users with basic payroll needs.

Wave Payroll is a cloud-based payroll solution from Wave Apps, designed for small businesses to handle employee payments, tax calculations, withholdings, and direct deposits automatically. It supports payroll runs on any schedule and includes tools for managing contractors, with seamless data syncing to Wave's free accounting software. Available primarily in select US states (CA, FL, IL, NY, TX, WA) and Canada, it focuses on simplicity and compliance in supported regions without requiring accounting expertise.

Payroll4Free is a web-based payroll solution that provides free payroll processing for small businesses with up to 25 employees. It automates salary calculations, tax withholdings, direct deposits, and generates essential forms like W-2s and 1099s. The service also supports federal and state tax filings, making it a straightforward option for basic payroll needs without ongoing costs.